Closure for collapsible tubes



March 20, 1934. A, M. HENNEN` CLOSURUFOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBES Filed April 5, 1933 IIIIII!! wry/Ef? latented Mar. 2U, i934 Unis STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

lViy present invention relates to improvements in closures for collapsible tubes of the type utilized for containing and dispensing tooth paste, shaving cream, and other plastic commodities.

f The primary object of my invention is the prosecurely retaining the closure in open position,

against wobbling, and of course against detachment from the head of the tube.

Ely the utilization oi the closure of my inven# tion an airtight and moisturatight stopper is provided for the tube, and the mouth or oriiice in the head is maintained in a clean condition in order that the plastic contents or paste may be free at all times to pass through the orifice when the latter is uncovered.

in the accompanying drawing I have illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of my invention wherein the parts are combined and arranged according to the best mode l have thus far devised for the practical application of the principles of my invention.

Figure l is a View of a collapsible tube equipped with the closure of my invention, the latter being shown in closed position.

Figure 2 is a View at the upper end of the tube,

" at right angles to Figure l, and indicating by dotted lines the manner in which the closure may be swung laterally to either side of the tube to permit dispensing of the paste therefrom.

Figure 3 is a top plan View or the tube and its head with the closure omitted for convenience of illustration.

Figure Ll is an enlarged detail sectional View with the cap in closed position, and Figure 5 is a similar View, taken at rightangles to Figure 4.

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail sectional view showing the manner of pivoting the closure on the head of the tube.

In carrying out my invention I utilize the usual collapsible tube l, and provide it with a specially constructed head 2 that is fashioned with a neck opening 3, through which the paste is to be discharged, by squeezing or collapsing the tube in usual manner.

As best seen in Figures 1 and 5 the head is fashioned with two iiat, oppositely arranged sides 4, 4, which are arranged in planes converging toward the body of the tube, thus forming the head with a greater width at its crown than at its juncture with the tube.

The crown or top circular face 5 of the head 6@ merges with two side faces 6 and '7, and as best seen in Figure 4, these two faces are aros of a circle having a less diameter than the diameter of the circular crown of the head.

In the two oppositely inclined sides l, fi, of the head are arranged indentations or pivot-sockets having flat cam faces 8, the indentations or sockets, as shown in Figure 6, being of maximum depth in that portion nearest to the orifice or mouth of the head, and these sockets as shown are round or circular.

The closure or cap 9, in the nature of an in verted U-shaped yoke, is of metal alloy that is comparatively light in weight and possesses elas- P ticity or resiliency in order that the cl-shaped 45 yoke may be sprung into place over the head, and also in order that the yoke or closure may be slightly spread for the purpose of holding it in open position against accidental closing.

Thus the closure at the inner sides of its two legs is provided with a pair of cam pivot-lugs 10, of circular shape and with cam or inclined faces complementary to the cam faces of the sockets 8 in the head, and these two lugs are readily inserted in their complementary sockets by slightly S5 spreading the legs of the yoke so that they will spring into proper position, and be retained in such position by the resiliency of the metal of the yoke or closure.

The closure or cap is adapted to swing on its 9G pivot points laterally, to either side of the head, as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 2, and when the U-shaped yoke is turned to the right, as indicated in Figure 4., the co-action of the cam faces of the lugs l0 and of the sockets 8, in frictional 95 engagement, holds the cap in open position against wobbling and against accidental closure.

The cap has a curved face 9 complementary to the curved crown or circular face 5 of the head, and it will thus appear that when the cap is turned to either side of the head, the face 9 except for the edge nearer the orifice of the neck, is out of contact with the adjoining side face, as face '7 in Figure 4. The face 9 of the cap hcwever closely contacts with the crown or circular 165 face 5 of the head to insure frictional contact for retaining the cap in central position on the head.

The discharge orice 3, as seen in Figure 3 is oblong, with rounded ends, to insure the laying of a flat strip or ribbon of the paste or cream on the brush, and this orifice is closed when the cap is in closed position, by means of a rubber stopper 11 having a shape complementary to the discharge orice, and the stopper is adapted to seat in the orice as seen in Figures 4 and 5. The rubber stopper projects through a recess l2 in the face 9 of the cap and the recess is countersunk with a dovetail socket 13 in which the stopper is secured.

The stopper tting in the orice aids in holding the cap in central closed position, and the recess about the stopper permits the latter to be bent upwardly, by lateral pressure on the cap to uncover the orice. Thus as the cap is pushed to one side the free end of the stopper is pulled out of the discharge oriice and bent upwardly into the recess as the -free end of the stopper rides over the crown of the head. The resilient stopper is thus compressed in its recess 12, and any paste that may follow, or be carried in the recess, as the cap is swung to lateral position, is swept out from beneath the cap and thus disposed of. In this manner the orifice is kept clean at all times in order that the stopper may provide an airtight and moisture-tight joint in connection with the orifice or neck 3 of the head.

It will be understood that although I have illustrated and described a practical and operative device for performing the required functions and effecting the desired results, many changes might be made in the size, shape, and material of the exemplied structure, without departing from the principles of my invention, and within the scope of my claims. I therefore wish my description and drawing to be taken as in a broad sense illustrative and diagrammatic, rather than as limiting my invention to the specic showing.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

1. The combination with a tube having a head and neck, an arcuate crown on said head and arcuate faces merging with said crown of less diameter than the crown, and countersunk cam faces in the opposite sides of said head, of a U- shaped closure cap of resilient material having pivot-lugs and cam faces on said lugs for coaction with said cam faces of the head, said closure-cap having an arcuate face complementary to the crown and a countersunk recess in said face, and a rubber stopper tted in said countersunk recess adapted to close the neck orifice when the cap is closed.

2. The combination with a tube having a head and neck, an arcuate crown on said head, and arcuate faces merging with said crown of less diameter' than the crown, of a pivoted U-shaped closure cap adapted to swing to either side of the crown of the head, said closure cap having an arcuate face complementary to the crown and a countersunl; recess in said face, and a rubber stopper tted in said countersunk recess adapted to close the neck orifice when the cap is closed.

ALOYSIUS M. HENNEN, 

